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*
Every night, Marnie finds it difficult to sleep. Because every night, for as long as Marnie can remember... the ocean-side manse alights with brilliant glowing light and her parents' parties. Hired musicians play drunkenly off-rhythm. Marnie can smell the wine.
"That's better!" Marnie declares, stuffing fine handkerchiefs in her bedroom door's crack.
She loudly cranks a golden phonograph, to drown downstairs, and recognizes the song. "Sing with me, Anna!" Marnie trills, letting out a high and clear note. Anna does her best to reach Marnie's same note, her voice cracking noticably. Anna's small cheeks blush pink. "Oh my!"
They giggle, and spin on the rugs, and enjoy the plate of forgotten raspberry cake Marnie snuck upstairs. Their fingertips darken a violet.
"My favorite food is these little oranges they sell at the door!" Marnie swoons, grinning enormously. "So sweet and ripe! And tasty!"
She dramatically unpeels an invisible one with her raspberry-violet fingers, serving it to Anna.
Anna's cheek blush brighter.
*
After a while, the novelty of the night fades.
Marnie encourages Anna to hold a lit candle with her with one of their hands. "Nan and the maids would be furious if they caught me!" Marnie says giggling. To Anna's confusion, she daringly holds the glowing flame as close to Marnie's puckering bottom lip as long as Marnie can.
It's silly and strange how not an inch of Marnie's flesh burns...
"Oh no, Marnie..."
*
The horizon outside of Marnie's bedroom window turns lighter and lighter. Downstairs goes quiet.
A yawn finally settles in Marnie's throat.
"I don't think I've ever loved someone as much as I love you, Anna." Marnie whispers, resting beside her. "You're in my dreams, too."
*